Hood and trunk lid lifting mechanism for model car

• US 6,565,412 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: J. Lloyd International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Craft House Corporation
• Inventors: Thrasher, Matthew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMILA O
• Application Number:
  US09/691,393
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 446/465, 446/466, 446/470, 446/437, 446/455, 446/424, 446/432, 446/435
• US Class Current: 446/465
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/004 Stunt-cars, e.g. lifting front wheels, roll-over or invertible cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/00 Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles steering mechanisms for toy vehicles A63H17/36; for model railways A63H19/24, A63H19/28

Abstract

A model car having a mechanism driven by an electric motor for selectively raising and lowering the front of the car in synchronization with actuation of the hood, and raising and lowering the rear of the car in synchronization with actuation of the trunk lid.

Claims

1. A model vehicle assembly including:

a chassis;

ground engaging means for supporting said chassis;

a body including at least one of a hood and a trunk lid hingedly connected to said body;

a first cam member engageable with the one of the hood and the trunk lid; and

a drive motor for actuating said first cam member for raising and lowering the one of the hood and the trunk lid.

2. The model vehicle according to claim 1, including a first lifting arm coupling said first cam member to the one of the hood and the trunk lid.

3. The model vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said ground engaging means includes a first set of ground engaging wheels and a second set of ground engaging wheels.

4. The model vehicle according to claim 3 wherein said first lifting arm includes an outer end and an inner end, said first lifting arm rotatably receiving said first set of ground engaging wheels intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said arm.

5. The model vehicle according to claim 4 wherein said first lifting arm includes at least one camming surface.

6. The model vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the one of the hood and the trunk lid includes a camming member adapted to contact the camming surface of said first lifting arm.

7. The model vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said first lifting arm includes a first pivotal mounting intermediate the outer and inner ends thereof for pivotally mounting said first lifting arm to said chassis.

8. The model vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said first lifting arm includes at least one camming surface intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said arm.

9. The model vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising a second cam member engageable with the other one of the hood and the trunk lid.

10. The model vehicle according to claim 9, including a second lifting arm coupling said second cam member to the other one of the hood and the trunk lid.

11. The model vehicle according to claim 10 wherein said second lifting arm includes an outer and an inner end, said second lifting arm rotatably receiving said second set of ground engaging wheels intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said arm.

12. The model vehicle according to claim 11 wherein said second lifting arm includes at least one camming surface.

13. The model vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the other one of the hood and the trunk lid includes a camming member adapted to contact the camming surface of said second lifting arm.

14. The model vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said second lifting arm includes a second pivotal mounting intermediate the outer and inner ends thereof for pivotally mounting said second lifting arm to said chassis.

15. The model vehicle according to claim 14, wherein said second lifting arm rotatably receives said second set of ground engaging wheels at the outer end of said arm.

16. The model vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said second lifting arm includes at least one camming surface intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said arm.

17. The model vehicle according to claim 9, including a gear train for coupling said drive motor to said first cam member and said second cam member.

18. The model vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said first lifting arm rotatably receives said first set of ground engaging wheels at the outer end of said arm.

19. The model vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said drive motor is a reversible drive motor.

20. A model vehicle assembly including:

a chassis;

a first set of ground engaging wheels;

a second set of ground engaging wheels;

a body disposed on said chassis;

at least one first lifting arm having an outer and an inner end, said arm adapted for rotatably receiving said first set of ground engaging wheels intermediate the outer end and the inner end thereof, said arm including a camming surface;

a first pivotal mounting intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said first lifting arm for pivotally mounting said first lifting arm to said chassis;

a hood including a first hinged mounting disposed thereon for coupling said hood to said body, and a camming member adapted to contact the camming surface of said first lifting arm;

at least one second lifting arm having an outer and an inner end, said arm adapted for rotatably receiving said second set of ground engaging wheels intermediate the outer end and the inner end thereof, said arm including a camming surface;

a second pivotal mounting intermediate the outer end and the inner end of said second lifting arm for pivotally mounting said second lifting arm to said chassis;

a trunk lid including a second hinged mounting disposed thereon for coupling said trunk lid to said body, and a camming member adapted to contact the camming surface of said second lifting arm;

a reversible drive motor;

a first cam member engaging said first lifting arm between the inner end thereof and said first pivotal mounting;

a second cam member engaging said second lifting arm between the inner end thereof and said second pivotal mounting; and

a gear train for coupling said drive motor to said first cam member and said second cam member, whereby energization of said motor in a first direction drives said first cam member and energization of said motor in a second direction drives said second cam member.